Resilient system



.Ei E. ROSS RESILIENT SYSTEM Filed Sept. 12. 1922 uw, uw :o @WO :5-1, er? smv hw W e @VN QQ.

Patented June 8, 1926.

orten sara-2s EDWARD E. ROSS, OF WILKNSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

RESILIENT SYSTEM.

Application filed September 12, 1922.

My invention relates to resilient suspension systems for automobiles or other vehicles, and it has particular relation to the preventionk of excessive rebound or re-coil ot the spring suspension systems thereof.

One object ot my invention is to provide a novel method ot resiliently supporting a vehicle body employing a main and a secondary resilient member wherein the two resilient members are adapted to assist each other in case of downward movement ot the vehicle body and to oppose each other during lupward movement thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method ot resilient suspension wherein the action of only one resilient member is utilized under conditions ot relatively light stress, while the combined action ot both resilient devices is utilized under conditions ot relatively heavy stress.

A 'further object ot my invention is to provide a method of spring control, wherein the action o1E a resilient member is controlled partly by the action of the main spring and partly by the movement of the vehicle body or load that is supported by the spring.

More speciiically, it is an object of my invention to provide a control device comprising a pair ot telescoping cylinders or other members respectively connected to a main spring and to a load member supported thereby, together with a secondary resilient member operating between said cylinders, the arrangement ot parts being such that the secondary resilient member may be operated independently of the motion of said cylinders.

Further objects and advantages oi my invention will be obvious from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying` drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section of a resilient suspension system constructed in accordance with one form of my invention, as applied to one well-known type ot vehicle construction.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modiied form oli resilient device, as applied to another well-known torni of vehicle construction.

' Fig/f3 is a sectional view of a modification of a portion of the system that is shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig.' 4t isa view corresponding to Fig Serial No. 587,664.

and illustrates a moditcation ot a portion ot' the system that is shown in Fig. 2.

Referring toV Fig. 1 of the drawing, the structure here shown comprises a portion of a vehicle body or trame 1 and of a stationary supporting axle 2 therefor, together with the familiar semi-elliptical or leaf spring 3, with which my resilient device 4 is associated, in a manner to be set forth.

The resilient device l comprises a stationary cylindrical member 5, which is suitably secured to the aXle 2 as by a nut 6 and pin 7. A second cylindrical member 8 is telescopically associated with the iiXed cylindrical member 5, being adapted to slide along the fixed cylinder within certain limits ot travel. Inside the iiXed cylinder 5, a secondary or relatively weak resilient member or coil spring 9, is disposed, the upper end thereof bearing against a piston member 10, the stem or rod 11 ot which is pivotally secured through a link 12 to a. crank arm 13 that is suitably journalled or mounted in the upper or movable cylinder 8.

Rigidly secured to the pin 14 of the crank arm 13, outside ot the movable cylinder 8, is a lever arm 15, the tree end of which is attached, through a lost motion connection 16 to a relatively stili? intermediate portion of the main spring 3 through the agency of a suitable clip or clamping device 17. It will be understood that some other relatively iixed portion of the vehicle may be used as an anchor for the lever arm 15, it desired.

The tree end or eye 18 of the main spring 3 is secured through the agency of a link or clevis 19 to a lug 20, near the lower edge of the movable cylinder 8.

In operation, the resilient suspension system illustrated performs a double duty in that it acts as a shock absorber in the case ot small irregularities of road surface and also as a rebound check onthe vehicle main spring for large irregularities ot road surface.

It is well known, that most automobiles are equipped with springs considerably stiffer than required for maximum comfort in riding, since the vehicle must be constructed to withstand over-loading andv travelling over unusually bad roads. Small amplitude vibrations are, therefore, transmitted through these stiff springs with but little cushioning effect, as the inertia and high scale ol these springs inakes them nonresponsive to such conditions when relatively light stress is involved.

On the other hand, large amplitude vibrations cause a detlection ot' the inain springs; but because ot their high scale, such springs give a quick violent rebound, which tends, and in many cases, actually does throw passengers up lroni their seats.

ln the operation et a resilient suspension systeinconstructed in accordance vith iny invention, the sinall amplitude vibrations are cushioned by the secondary resilient ineinlwr 9, which also acts as a recoil check to control the rebound ol the inain springv in the case of largeainplitude vibrations, Without einlzodjnlngil the detects oil prior types olf rebound checks. Such usual types ot rebound checks either place the main springs under considerablestatic load or else sacrifice theV ability to begin the 'checking` action liet/.ire the inain spring passes through its neutral or nornial position during the rebound movement. y

rhe operation of the device illustrated in Fig'. 1 may be described folloiv's: The vehicle body frame 1 rests. in a. familiar n'ianner, upon the inain spring 3, which `may transmit the load through link 19 to the upper telescopinc,` cylinder S. This stress is transmitted through the crank arin 13, vvh'ch is journalled in the cylinder 8, to theV piston or yplunger 10, and Vfinally through the secondaryv or relatively iveak resilient ineinber 9 to the asile 2.

llfhen the vehicle Wheels'are passing' orer suiall irregularities in the road, relativelfii sinall upward acceleration pressures are developed; which would not be sutiic'ient to deflect inain spring 3, but are absorbed by iny secondary esilient meinbcr 9, which allows he loiver telcscoping cylinder 5 to ride up and doivn within the upper telescoping'l cylinder 8. Since there is no deflection oft inuin spring` 3, the lever arin l'does not oscillate, and crank arni 1'3`is, theredpore` tiried vvvitli relation to cylinder 8. rlie effects ot such sinall irregularities or" the road surtace are thus smoothed out, and siilista.ntially no anno ving` eiiects are transmitted to the vehicle body proper.` i i A (ln the other hand, when a large irregularity in the rroad is encountered, the aA le s and lovver yc)*lindaer 5 nieve upwardly, it .iii-cessaryv` until the lull deflection is obtained. transmitting the resuitai'it pressure through piston 10. upper cylinder, 8 and link 19 to the tree end the niai'n Vspringl 3. soon as the niain spring fl vcorrespo-ndinell' detlects or straightens'out,`it carries clipmo'r clainp ineniber l'l'doyvnivardly, causing' the lever arin lrto oscillate, Withthe result that crank'arni 13 is thrown upwardly `ivitliin the cylinder 8'. 4Thepiston is thus alsohao ligated in an up'irafrdf'di *eetinftencli merge-os release the secondary resilient ineiuhcr il until the uppe cylinder 8 slides dovvn ttul ther over the lower cylinder o by reason ot the pull olI the 1tree end or the inain spring` on link 19 and the upper cylinder 8.

ln this Way, the secondary resilient ineinber or spring 9 is again placed under relatively heavy compression. rl/Then the main spring` 3 occupies the lovvest point ot its downward stroke or deflection, auxiliary spring 9 is then under a corresponding degree stress, being` held doivn by the pres- .'ure transmitted to upper cylinder' 5% and piston 10 by the end or the main spring 23.

As soon as the main spring il starts on its upv'ard or re-bound stroke, it tends to raise the clip or clainp ineinber 17, and therefore, the lever arin 15 This lever arin being rigidly associated with -rank arm 13, doivnyard pressure on the auxiliary spring 9 is exerted by the crank arin 13 through thc piston 10. The Aauxiliary springr 9 is thus placed under a stress, such that the ellective action thereo't opposes the action t the inain spring 3 during the upvmrd re-liound stroke thereof. The el'ierggpv oi" the vrc-boiuid ot each ot the resilient in inhers is thus` to fig the resistance ot' the other and oic the Yfriction oi the other moving' inenbers. As a result, a relatively slofiv upward thrust ol the car body support or traine 1 is produced, and the previously mentioned violent recoil. action that occurs in springr suspension systenis oit the prior art is entirely obviated by the use ot niy systei".

Iltigure 2 shovvsa dilterent type oi'j vehicle structure. to ivhich another form ot iny inrention is applied. in the present case, the upper telescoping;` cylinder 8 is sec red by a link to a traine nicniber or support 2.0 oi" the vehicle, vchilc the lower telescopingij cylinder is provided with an upwardly extendii ,fr arin to which the' Atree end or eye ot the inain spring Il is attached. ln the present case, the main spring; is reversed in position vfith respect to that shoivn in Fig. 1, and the interineeliat. portion thereof is suitably secured to a transif'ersely extend ing axle 28. The leve c' :ii-in 15. has one end rigidly secured to the crank arm lil, which ispivotally atta hed to theA piston l0, ivhilc the other vend ol the lever arin is suitably attached to the avileov support member by means ot a sn'ivel link to alloiv :inv necessari-,f side sivaiy. i y I i' The type of auxiliary resilient nieinber 30 that is illust-rated in Fig. 2 is ot the coinliined liquid and air cushion type vvhieh is set 'forthand claimed in inyv Patent No. iaesi.

The' principle of operation of this device, briefly stated, is the forcing of liquid from airinterin'ediate chamber 31 to `an outer chamber 32,? in irlitli a @risticii of air is lil() llll llS

thus entrapped. In view of the full disclosure in my above-noted patent, yit is not believed that any further description of the operation of this auxiliary resilient device is necessary 'for the purposes of the present application.

It will thus be noted that both the main spring and the auxiliary resilient device may be of various types within the scope ol the present invention, and that I am not, theretore7 limited to either of the illustrated types.

In the system shown in Fig. 2, the downward pressure ot the car trame 26 is transmitted directly through link 25 to the upper telescopine` cylinder 3a. In the present case, the lever arm 15a tends to actuate the crank arm 13 in the same direction as its own motion, thus differing' trom the relative movement of these parts in the system shown in Fig. 1, by reason of the difference in the type of main spring suspension.

In the operation of the device illustrated in Fig. 2, relatively slight bumps or shocks are absorbed by the supplementary resilient device 30 and do not cause any appreciable deflection of the main spring 3. When a larger bump is encountered, the auxiliary device 30 is first compressed by reason ot the upper telescopingj cylinder 8 being slid over the lower cylinder 5Fl. The main spring 3 is then deflected or straightened out by the shock` which causes the lever arm 15a and the rigidly associated crank arm 13 to move upwardly. This action in turn allows the upper cylinder 81 to slide down further over the lower cylinder 5tL until the main spring 3 has moved to its maximum upper position. As soon as the main spring,` 3 attempts to return downwardly with respect to the car trame 26, the sudden or violent return thereof is checked by the action of the supplementary resilient device 13 pressing against the plunger 10a and thereby tending to keep the lever arm 15a in its upper position to resist downward pull ot the axle 23. In this way, the desired opposition of the main and the auxiliary resilient devices during the re-bound stroke is ellected in a manner corresponding to that previously described in connection with Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates the adaptation of my fluid type ot spring device, as covered in Patent No. 1,378,281, tothe type of vehicle construction that is illustrated in Fig. 1. Suitable upper and lower telescoping cylinders 8" and 5b, respectively, are provided. 'lt will be understood that the superior qualities of an air spring with hydraulic damping. as exemplified in the above noted patent rendering this device very suitable for employment as the secondary resilient device.

Fig. l illustrates the adaptation of the type of coil spring device that is shown -in Fig. 1 to the type of vehicle construction that is illustrated in Fig. 2,

No further description of the operation of the systems partially illustrated in Figs. 3 and l is considered necessary.

It will be seen that I have thus provided a resilient suspension system Jlor vehicles wherein a. plurality oli resilient' members are cinnulatively related. in the event ot a downward,movement olf the vehicle body and are dilierentially related in case ot return movement to prevent a violent rebound e'lifect, whenever relatively large irregularities of' road surface are encountered. @n the other hand, relznivelv small shocks are absorbed by one oit the resilient devices acting alone.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specilic structural details or arrangement ot parts herein set forth, as vario-us modifications thereof may be made without departing; trom the spirit and scope ot my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are specilically ser. forth in the appended claims.

I claim my invention:

1. A resilient control device comprising` a cylinder, a resilient member disposed therein, a secont. cylinder telescopically associated with the first-named cylinder, a lever having;` one part mechanically associated with said second cylinder and another part with said resilient member, a second resilient member, means tor connecting one end ot said second resilient member to said telescoping cylinder, and means tor independently connecting,` a relatively stili7 portion ot said second resilient member to one end ol' said lever.

2. In a resilient system for a vehicle, the combination with a load member and a main spring,` secured thereto, ot a pair ot telescoping cylinders, a secondary resilient member operating` therebetween, said cylinders being respectively attached to one end o1 said spring' and to said load member, a plural part lever for causing motion ot said secondary resilient member independently ot said cylinders, and means for attachinga one ot' said parts to a relatively stationary portion ot' said vehicle.

3. A resilient system comprising a main spring and a load member, a pair ot relatively movable co-operating` members respectively connected to said spring and said load member, a secondary resilient member operating; between said relatively movable members, and lever means having one end connected to a relatively stit't portion ot said main spring' for ellecting` .motion of Said secondary resilient member independently ot said relatively movable members..

4l. A resilient control device for a vehicle, comprising' a cylinder, a resilient member disposed therein, a second cylinder telescopically associated with the first-named cylinder, a piston bearing` on said resilient member, a lever structure pivotally mounted in.

said teleseoping. cylinder and loosely secured to said piston, a second resilient meinlfer. means for connecting' af free end of said .second res lient member te one of said Cylinders, and means for connecting a relatively fixed portion of said vehicle to one end ot sai l lever structure.

In a resilient control device, a main spring, a pair of telescoping cylinders, an auxiliary spring member operatingv therebetween, means for connecting said main spring' to one et said cylinders and a lever direetly operating upon said auxiliary member and pivotally attached to one of said 'i telcscoping cylinders, the other end ot' said lever being pivetally attached to a relativel y stili portion et said main spring.

6. A resilient control device comprising a load-supporting(member, a -pair telescoping. cylinders7 an aiixil'iary spring meniber operatingtherebetween, a main spring, means torat-'aehing said main spring; to the load and to one of said cylinders, and lever pivotally attached to said one cylinder, to said aiixiliary spring member and to said main spring,

T. ln a resilient control system, the combination oi' a loadsupporting,` member, a main resilient member operating' between the load and said supporting member, a pair oi telescoping cylinders, an auxiliary resilient member operating therebetween,one'oi' said cylinders being fixed to said supporting member, means for connecting' the other c'ylinder to tliev'main spring, and a lever independently o f said means and pivotally conn e'eted to the latter cylinder for operating upon said auxiliary resilient member, said lever being` pivotally Connected to a stili' portion oi' the main spring.

8. A. resilient control device comprising a leaf spring, a pair oi' telescoping cylinders, an auxiliary spring operating therebetween, one or" said cylinders beingiixed, and a lever struc-ture, and means for attaching,` the other cylinder to one end or"- said leaf spring, said other cylinder acting upon the auxiliary resilient member independentlyV of said meansand directly through a pivotal connection with said lever structure.

9. lfn a resilient system, a load-supporting; leaf s` ring", a pair of telescoping Cylinders, an' aun,liufiryA resilient member operatingtherebetiveen, one or said cylinders being; connected toa flexible portion ofsaid leali spring., a lever having a) lost-motion connection to a stiff portion of said leaf spring and pivotally attached to one of said cylinders for directly operatingupon said auxiliary resilient member.

Iii testimony whereof, I have herennto subscribed my name this 31st day of August 19.22.'

EDARD E. 7.2.0513. 

